Escaping the Routine

The last several years have been quite hectic for me both relating to work as personally and in a way emotionally draining. My 2011 plan was to take it easy in the first quarter and get my life back in balance. People who knew me were a bit skeptic about this plan but with minimum work lined up it looked like it might happen.

This is the very first week this year I will be at home the full week. As you might imagine, the “taking it easy” part has not really worked out. I decided to take a consulting assignment, which would be part-time but ended up being full-time, and then some.

The interesting aspect is that even though my life is full throttle it is providing me with more energy than before. My last consulting engagement sucked the energy out of me: the work was not mentally challenging and no matter what you delivered, it was never “good enough”. Yes, I would love to be home for more than a few days at a time, have food in my fridge (if you have seen “Up in Air” you know how my fridge looks), and see my friends. However, the work is challenging, the people interesting and I still manage to find some time to play.

This last week, I drove my new motorcycle from Atlanta to San Francisco (a friend gave me a deal I could not refuse). It reminded me of how important it is for our well being to now and then totally step out of our daily routine. Yes, enough people told me I was insane to drive 300 to 350 miles per day crossing the USA but this trip has been fully worth it.

Except for strengthening friendships it made me realize to be grateful for the amazing world we live in. Driving over two lane roads that cross through high plains deserts passing by “monuments” of the eroded land make you realize that this world has been there long before we set foot on it and will be there long after we are gone. It makes you question if the items we worry about and get us upset are really that important in the bigger scheme of things. A lot of time the answer is no.

The trip also made me aware of my own preconceived notions. Being shocked to hear there is a Whole Foods in Little Rock, Arkansas told me more about my perspective of the south than what the south is really about. It forced me to investigate what other stereotype notions I might harbor. People were extremely friendly along the way and curious about where we were going (including the cop who pulled us over while we were going significantly faster than the speed limit somewhere in the middle of nowhere in gorgeous northern New Mexico).

What amazes me of the aspect of well being is that it stretches from quiet meditation, driving cross country, and traveling to far away places. It really comes down to enjoying life as it is right now. Echard Toll says it all in with cherishing the “Power of Now”. My trip put me back in the Now. My recommendation to you is to find your entrance to your Now!  It is worth it!!